The idea of the Syrian opposition dancing to a foreign tune has been floated by John R. Bradley, author of the book, After the Arab Spring. He says NATO members are committed to toppling the regime and will make Iran their next target.

­“[Syrian opposition is] under huge pressure from outside powers who want these talks [between the Assad regime and the opposition] to fail even before they begin – most obviously NATO,” he told RT. “NATO is determined to bring the Assad regime to its knees as a prelude to invading Iran.”

Bradley points out that two Arab states play a particularly important role in NATO’s plans for Syria. These are Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

“Saudi Arabia is financially and politically backing the civilian opposition [in Syria], and Qatar has been widely reported to be funding and arming the jihad rebels who were leading this insurrection,” he said. “We can be absolutely sure that this is nothing to do with human rights when it comes to the West’s concern, and even more sure when it comes to the concern of Saudi Arabia. This is how preposterous the Western media coverage is, of this uprising.”

The author notes that all eyes are to Moscow now, because Russia’s position and actions will determine how the situation unfolds.

“[Russians] know that if they support the UN resolution, that is even ostensibly protecting civilians, it will be used by NATO as an excuse to impose a no-fly zone, while the Qataris and Saudis form jihadists on the ground. Russia is essentially crucial in all of this,” he explained.

“Russia absolutely must veto any UN resolution that comes at the behest of the NATO allies – Saudi Arabia and Qatar – in near the future, because it will just be an excuse for an invasion. And that will lead to a civil war so bloody, so ferocious, so murderous that it will make what happened in Libya look like a high school prom by comparison,” John R. Bradley concluded.